Denture cleanser



Patented Nov. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nm vifi f-l m Joseph Anthony Hopkins, Rockford, Ill.

No Drawing. Application December 5, 1940, Serial No. 368,627

8 Claims. (01. 161-93) dentures. Many cleansers also had a -tendency to spoil the glaze on the porcelain teeth, particularly where the dentures were left over night in too strong solutions. It is therefore the principal object of my invention to providea cleansing compound for removable dentures which, while strong enough to do a thorough job of cleaning, will not be at all apt to harm the porcelain of the teeth or the material of the base and will not in any case necessitate keeping a denture over night in a solution.

The preferred form of my invention is the following compound:

rams Calcium carbonate precipitate 48 Th; oxide 8 Tartaric acid 3 Alkyl sulfoacetate (3% solution) .54 Sodium bicarbonate 24 Oil of Wintergreen 2 All of the above weights must be taken as approximate, inasmuch as variation one way or the other in the amount of one or more of the ingredients might give some of the benefits of the present invention, although a compound made up precisely as outlined above has been found to give the best results. It will also be understood that in the commercia1 application of the invention, the six ingredients mentioned are the active ingredients and a suitable filler for increased bulk may be employed, desired.

This compound being free of soap can be used equally well with hard water as with soft water, without any danger of depositing a calcium film as the cleansing effect is in no way dependent on the kind of water used. There is furthermore nothing in the compound to discolor or otherwise attack the base of the denture whether it be vulcanite, acrylic acid resin, or any of the other materials commonly used. The glaze on the porcelain teeth is not aflected, but, as a matter of fact, continued use of the present compound will actually tend to polish the porcelain surfaces. The calcium carbonate precipitate is a finely pulverized abrasive and works in combination with the detergent-alkyl sulfoacetate-to thoroughly cleanse the denture. The tin oxide serves as the polishing agent, while the tartaric acid reduces the alkalinity and the sodium bicarbonate neutralizes odors. The oil of Wintergreen is for flavoring,

Dentures cleaned with this compound are found to give a pleasing sensation in the mouth and to avoid the irritationso commonly experienced in the use of other cleaners traceable either to the compounds themselves or to the fact that the bases of the dentures were roughened by contactwith the strong compounds, it being well known that the delicate mucous membrane of the .mouth is quick to detect even the most minute change in the surface characteristics of a denture. The thorough cleansing action of the present compound helps to reduce the number of organisms that accumulate on a plate, it being well known that an improperly or insufficiently cleansed plate placed in the mouth forms an ideal breeding place for bacteria and organisms which good sanitation dictates the necessity of reducing to a minimum, if it is not possible to entirely eliminate the same.

Y A modification of the compound disclosed above, which I have found also gives good results, is one in which another detergent, an 8% solution of pure castile soap, is substituted for the detergent, alkyl sulfoacetate, seven grams of this solution being used, assuming all of the other ingredients are used in the amounts stated above. Of course, this compound should be used preferably with soft water to avoid likelihood'of depositing a calcium film.

- Another satisfactory modification is one in which still another detergent, sodium alkyl sulfate, is employed in place of either of the detergents previously mentioned, eighteen grams of this being used, assuming all of the other ingreclients are used in the. amounts stated above. This detergent will work equally well with hard or soft water without danger of depositing any film.

It should be understood that by the term removable dentures used in this specification and in the claims, I mean not only plates but all removable dental appliances, such as lingual bars, bridges, palatal bars, etc.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimatemodification and adaptations.

I claim: 1. A preparation for cleaning removable dentures, consisting of a lather producing detergent and including a polishing agent, a suitable acid, and suilicient sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid, the latter two ingredients when wetted A in the application of the preparation to dentures serving to liberate CD: as a froth producing gas.

2. A preparationfor cleaning removable dentures, consisting of alkyl sulioacetate as a lather producing. detergent and including a polishing agent, a suitable acid, and suflicientsodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid, the latter two ingredients when wetted in the application of the preparation to dentures serving to liberate CO2 as a froth producing gas.

3. A preparation for cleaning removable dentures, consisting of castile. soap as a lather producing detergent, and including a polishing agent, a suitable acid. and suflicient sodium bicarbonateto neutralize the acid, the latter two ingredients when wetted in the application of the preparation .to dentures serving to liberate CO2 as a froth producing gas.

4. A preparation for cleaning removable'dentures, consisting of sodium alkyl sulfate as a lather producing detergent, and including a polishing agent, a suitable acid, and sufiicient sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid, the latter two ingredients when wetted in the application of the preparation to dentures serving to liberate C: as a froth producing gas.

5. A preparation for cleaning removable dentures, consisting of alkyl sulfoacetate as a lather producing detergent, and including a polishing agent, an abrasive agent, and a flavoring agent, tartaric acid, and suflicient sodium bicarbonate to substantially neutralize said acid, the latter two ingredients when wetted in the application of the preparation to dentures serving .to liberate C02 as a froth producing gas.

6. A preparation for cleaning removable dentures, consisting of castile soap as a lather producing detergent, and including a polishing agent, an abrasive agent, and a flavoring agent, tartaric acid, and suiiicient sodium bicarbonate to substantially neutralize said acid, the lattertwo ingredients when wetted in the application of the preparation to dentures serving to liberate CO: as a froth producing gas.

7. A preparation for cleaning removable dentures, consisting of sodium alkyl sulfate as a lather producing detergent, and including a polishing agent, an abrasive agent, and a flavoring agent, tartaric acid, and suffi'cient sodium bicarbonate to substantially neutralize said acid, the latter two ingredients when wetted in the application of the preparation to dentures serving to liberate CO2 as a froth producing gas.

8. A dry powder form of preparation for cleaning removable dentures, consisting of a lather producing detergent and including tin oxide as a polishing agent, a weak organic acid in powder form, and sodium bicarbonate in substantial excess over that required to neutralize the acid, the

lattertwo ingredients when wetted in the application of the preparation to dentures serving to liberate CO2 as a froth producing gas.

J OSEPH ANTHONY HOPKINS. 

